I Was Meant For The Stage.

Bob Ladewig put this song on a CD for me two years ago.

It got lost and was found about 8 months ago.

Then it got lost again and was recently found for the second time about two weeks ago.

Now it's loaded on the ipod and in regular rotation.

And that's how I heard the song "I was meant for the stage" by The Decemberists for the first time, a week ago, even though it was given to me, two years ago.

I was listening to it on the Montrose bus, heading to meet Greg, to run Hendo's much-delayed Xmas present. As soon as the song ended, I texted this message to Bob.

"JUST LISTENED TO 'I WAS MEANT FOR THE STAGE' FOR THE FIRST TIME. WANT THAT PLAYED AT MY FUNERAL."

From across the country, Bob texted this back to me...

"THOUGHT OF YOU THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THAT. I KNEW YOU WOULD LIKE IT."

And he was right.

I love it.

Check out these lyrics...

I was meant for the stage,
I was meant for the curtain.
I was meant to tread these boards,
Of this much i am certain.

I was meant for the crowd,
I was meant for the shouting.
I was meant to raise these hands
With quiet all about me. oh, oh.

Mother, please, be proud.
Father, be forgiven.
Even though you told me
'Son, you'll never make a living.' oh, oh.

From the floorboards to the fly,
Here I was fated to reside.
And as I take my final bow,
Was there ever any doubt?
And as the spotlights fade away,
And you're escorted through the foyer,
You will resume your callow ways,
But I was meant for the stage.

The heavens at my birth
Intended me for stardom,
Rays of light shone down on me
And all my sins were pardoned.

I was meant for applause.
I was meant for derision.
Nothing short of fate itself
Has affected my decision. oh, oh.

From the floorboards to the fly,
here i was fated to reside.
And as I take my final bow,
Was there ever any doubt?
And as the spotlights fade away,
And you're escorted through the foyer,
You will resume your callow ways,
But I was meant for the stage.

Over 7 minutes long, this thing slowly marches along, adding orchestral accompaniment and then, at the end, devolving into chaos before it packs it up, gets in the car and drives off, song unfinished.

I played it for Lisa on Saturday night and she had an interesting take on the calamitous ending. She said, "I like how all of the musicians break away from the melody and play their own songs at the end. Like they were free to finally play the way that they wanted to."

My interpretation of the ending is slightly different. To me, it sounds like the singer stops singing and the band tries to carry on without him, but that things just fall apart without him driving the piece and eventually everything collapses without him.

I think it's interesting that we both saw something very different with the finale of the song. I think our different interpretations tell you more about us, than they do, about the song, itself.

I guess you better give it a listen.

Here you go.



Lovely.

Cheers,
Mr.B